i dated a guy for about a week. We never had intercourse but he did ejaculate right next to my anus. I know sperm can swim and i am now terrified that i may have caught something.

He says he is healthy. But he is from Portugal and i looked on the internet and it says that Portugal has the highest rate of hiv in europe.

He swears he always uses condoms.

I am going out of my mind.

What are my chances of catching hiv from that encounter.

Please answer me.

Response from Dr. Frascino

Hi,

Yes, sperm can "swim," but it's not like they are Mark Spitz or something. You are not going to find an HIV particle catching a ride on a marathon-swimming sperm as he backstrokes his way from a spunk spot to your inner sanctum! The bottom-line on your bottom is if you didn't have penetrative sex, you have absolutely nothing to worry about as far as HIV is concerned, whether your boy-toy was from Portugal or the former planet Pluto. Certainly, if you remain worried, you can get a single rapid HIV test at the three-month mark. The result will undoubtedly be negative, but it may be the most efficient and effective way to put your unwarranted worries permanently to rest.

This forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not rendering medical, mental health, legal or other professional advice or services. If you have or suspect you may have a medical, mental health, legal or other problem that requires advice, consult your own caregiver, attorney or other qualified professional.

Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither TheBody.com nor any advertiser is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 750 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.